This season of The Right Side Up is drawing to a close, and we are thrilled to welcome a dear mentor for so many of us, theologian Scot McKnight, to speak on Mary. Scot has written extensively about the empowerment of women in the church and the significance of Mary in the biblical narrative. In this conversation he also speaks to the erasure of women's voices throughout church history. We explore Scot's personal journey in understanding women's roles in ministry, he offers advice for male leaders, and emphasizes the importance of intentional action to create a more inclusive church environment. Expect to hear a lot about Mary's influence on Jesus and her role as a prototype of discipleship. This one really sums it all up.

Show Notes

Link to order the book: Need to Know: Empowering Female Leadership and Why It’s Essential for the Future of the Church

Ben Wildflower’s Magnificat Print: https://benwildflower.com/products/magnificat-print

takeaways

* The empowerment of women is essential for the future of the church.

* Mary's role in the biblical narrative is often overlooked.

* The erasure of women's voices in church history is a significant issue.

* Male leaders need to take intentional action to support women in ministry.

* Mary serves as a prototype of what it means to bear Christ.

* The Magnificat is a politically subversive text that has even been banned in some contexts.

* Women should be represented in leadership roles to change church dynamics.

* Intentional inclusion of women's stories is crucial for a balanced narrative.

* The church must recognize and celebrate the contributions of women.

Sound Bites

* "We, especially white men, often need to move over and get replaced by women."

* "Mary is the first prototype of a Christian."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

05:33 The Erasure of Women from the Church's History

08:44 Scot's Journey and Changing Views on Women in Leadership

13:29 Advice for Male Leaders in a Patriarchal World

20:05 The Importance of Mary's Song and the Erasure of Women's Stories

26:28 The Significance of Mary in the Biblical Narrative

32:46 Mary as the Prototype of a Christian

38:22 Mary's Struggle and the Importance of Her Example

43:26 Conclusion and Blessing of Danielle's Leadership

In this episode of Need to Know we welcome book contributors Liz Ríos and Lisa Rodriguez-Watson to discuss resistance against empire, and embracing the confrontation of the Jesus-way. We explore the lived experiences of women leaders, the role of resistance against oppressive structures, and the significance of listening to marginalized voices. Liz and Lisa each emphasize the necessity of love, community, and the rejection of fear even as we deal with those who don’t agree with us, as we move towards a flourishing church.

Show Notes

Link to order the book: Need to Know: Empowering Female Leadership and Why It’s Essential for the Future of the Church

takeaways

* Women’s empowerment is essential for the flourishing of the church.

* Collaborative leadership is necessary to counteract the influence of empire.

* Listening to marginalized voices is vital for understanding the impact of empire.

* Resistance against oppressive structures is ongoing work.

* Maintaining grace and hope is important for leaders facing challenges.

* The church's decline is often due to a failure to embrace justice and inclusivity.

* Love and community are foundational for church growth and health.

* Education and awareness are critical for understanding the complexities of leadership.

keywords

church leadership, empowerment of women, collaborative leadership, resistance, allies, voices from the margins, Billy Graham rule, community, love, justice

Sound Bites

* "The church needs women."

* "Don't be afraid."

* "The empire runs on fear."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Need to Know book

03:28 The Impact of Empire and the Kingdom Way of Doing Things

06:32 Collaborative Leadership and the Need for Change

10:46 The At Odds Nature of Empire and the Church

16:31 Choosing Life and Undoing the Co-Opting of the Church

19:07 Shifting the DNA of the Church and Fostering Community

21:23 The Importance of Love and Following Jesus

26:49 The Holy Work of Resistance

28:08 Subverting Tokenism and Embracing Real Influence

29:15 Challenging the Billy Graham Rule and Fear-Based Mindsets

33:39 Education, Awareness, and Listening as Tools for Change

On this episode of the Right Side Up podcast, we finally talk about the Apostle Paul and his issues with women. We are joined by our good friends Lucy Peppiatt and Aaron White, who discuss Aaron’s contributions to the book based upon Lucy’s scholarship and theology. We delve into the complexities and often misunderstood teachings of Paul regarding women, discussing how these scriptures have been weaponized and misinterpreted. Lucy emphasizes the importance of viewing Scripture with a holistic and contextual lens, and being honest about the things we just don’t understand in Paul’s letters. We call once again for men to be allies and for the church to embrace a fuller understanding of gender equality as part of its mission for the future.

Show Notes

Link to order the book: Need to Know: Empowering Female Leadership and Why It’s Essential for the Future of the Church

Learn more about Lucy, the school she leads, and her books.

keywords women in ministry, biblical scholarship, paul, culture, context, early church, women leaders, theology, allies

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Right Side Up Podcast

00:53 Meet the Hosts and Guests

02:01 Discussing Paul's Views on Women

06:26 Reinterpreting Paul's Teachings

15:24 Challenges of Women in Leadership

19:39 Men's Role in Supporting Women

23:49 Engaging with Difficult Scriptures

29:32 Reflecting on a Friend's Life and Legacy

30:22 Lucy's Work and Its Impact

30:46 Youth Camp and Challenging Verses

32:06 Invitation to Deeper Understanding

34:44 Launching the Need to Know Book

35:52 The Role of Allies

37:33 Humility in Scriptural Interpretation

39:49 Confronting Difficult Passages

46:35 Hope for Change and Future Generations

51:33 Lucy's Current and Future Projects

54:52 Final Thoughts and Encouragement